The station shook violently and Amity jolted awake. Pulling on her jacket, she grabbed Machina and headed for the door. "What's going on!"

"The station is under attack," Machina replied. "Rescue everyone you can."

Rounding the corner, Amity jogged to the shuttle platform, surveying the damage around her. Aside from a few bits of ceiling debris, there was little to be seen. As she approached the platform, the sound of echoed screams grew stronger. The train itself sat idle at the platform as crowds flocked past it, heading toward the docks at the station's rim. Gazing further down the tunnel, Amity saw the Merchant Dome in flames.

Forcing her way through the crowd, Amity boarded the train and looked around. "Empty?" She headed farther in and found the driver's compartment abandoned. Taking a seat, Amity ran a hand over the controls and brushed her brow anxiously. "I can't—"

She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see the crane from yesterday. "You again?"

He nodded. "Can you drive this thing?"

She shook her head. "Where'd the driver go?"

The crane shrugged. "Fled, like everyone else."

Amity looked up as a bright yellow explosion shot up from within the Merchant Dome. "We have to get down there; make sure everyone gets out."

The crane nodded. "And luckily, I can drive."

Amity stared at him a second, not sure what to think, then stood up and gestured to the controls. The crane sat down and cracked his knuckles, then pressed down the starter button and slid the gearshift up to speed. "By the way," he looked up at her as the train began its descent, "I never did ask your name."

"Amity," she replied, gripping the back of the seat and staring at the flames ahead. She glanced at him. "You?"

He cracked a smile. "It's hard to pronounce in your tongue."

"Try me," she smirked.

"Jxulxlox."

"That's… quite a mouthful."

He chuckled. "Jx is fine." He looked up. "We're almost there. You ready?"

Amity nodded, tightening her grip on Machina.

The train screeched to a stop and Jx turned to her. "Good luck."

Amity nodded. "Keep the engine running."

xXxXx

Stepping out, she dodged a bit of flaming debris and looked over the scene. Most of the buildings were in flames, embers floating out of windows and igniting new fires. Smoke billowed into the dome's high ceiling and off to other parts of the station. Amity scrunched her nose at the smell and called out, "Is anybody here!"

A few faces popped out from hiding and she called again, "Everyone on the train! We'll be leaving soon!" As people flooded toward the train, Amity heard a shrill voice behind her.

"Amity!"

She turned with a jolt and looked down. "Kate?" She squatted to face her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Where's your father?"

"I don't know!" she wailed, trembling. "W-We got separated! In the market! I don't know where he is!" She began to cry.

"Don't worry, I'll find him." Amity hugged her quickly. "Now get on the train. Wait for us there, you understand?"

Kate nodded, sniffing.

"Good." Amity stood up. "We'll be back soon. Wait for us."

Shoving past the crowd, Amity covered her mouth from the dust and smoke and charged down the street. A window exploded beside her and she twisted, catching the shrapnel across the back of her jacket and arms. Wincing, she held a hand above her eyes and searched the area.

Noticing motion in a pile of rubble, she glanced quickly for dangers before moving in. Surveying the debris, Amity took hold of a large piece but immediately let go, feeling it burn her hands. She flexed her fingers and stared at her aching palms, then looked at the rubble again. Feeling Machina shake at her side, she took hold of the blade and wedged it between the blocks, shoving the upper piece to the side. Hearing a faint cough within, she carefully cleared out the lower debris and uncovered Kate's father.

"Don't worry," she spoke quickly, digging out enough room to drag him from the pile. Reaching his hands and knees, he coughed and wiped the soot off his face.

"Can you walk?" Amity asked, taking him beneath the arms and lifting him to his feet.

He shook his head.

"Well, you're gonna have to," Amity grunted, keeping her arm around him and moving back toward the train.

A violent explosion erupted behind them and Amity turned her head to see a building two blocks down collapse to the floor, the silhouette of a humanoid standing in its wake. As the dust cleared, the dark figure didn't become any lighter. Turning toward her, its ramped spike shoulder plates became more defined, and gradually its slitted white eyes appeared, focused intensely on her.

Machina shook fiercely at Amity's side. "Run! You cannot face him yet!"

Amity stared wide-eyed at the figure, then tightened her grip on Kate's father and charged in the direction of the train. The figure followed first in a walk, then a run, the sharp crunching of its footsteps becoming steadier. Amity glanced back and saw a massive spear-like glove enclosing the figure's right hand, drawn back in preparation to attack.

"Come on!" Amity shouted at the father, eyeing their pursuer again and dragging him more violently. Reaching the train, she shoved him through the open doorway and pulled the door shut behind them. "Jx! Go!" she shouted at the driver's compartment.

The train started moving in reverse as Amity pushed through the crowded cabin to the driver. Breathing heavily, she looked out the front windshield and saw the figure still approaching. "Any idea what that thing is?" she turned to Jx.

"I—" he stopped as the figure leapt forward, propelled by some blue glow beneath the shoulder pads and sending it crashing just below the windshield.

"It's—" Amity started.

"I know!" Jx replied, tensing his grip on the controls.

"Then how do we get rid of it!"

Jx shook his head. "Not much we can do; we're locked on this track."

The spear jabbed through into the cabin and Amity jumped back with a yelp. Locking the controls in place, Jx took hold of the spear and began to shake, then shoved it back outside. There was a faint thud and the two looked out to see the figure crouched on the tracks, glaring at the escaping train.

Slumping back, Jx let out a long sigh. "That was close."

Amity took a couple deep breaths, then leaned on the back of the seat and looked at him. "What happened just now?"

"Seismic spear," Jx replied, still calming himself. "Would've shaken this train to pieces."

"So you know what that thing was?"

Jx nodded slowly. "When we have more time, I'll tell you." He glanced back at the cabin. "Check on the passengers. See that everyone's okay."

Amity nodded and wiped her brow, then returned to the cabin.

xXxXx

"Amity!" Kate wrapped herself around Amity's leg. "My dad! You saved him!"

Amity reached down and patted Kate's hair. "Just glad he's okay." Slumping toward a seat on the side, she gestured for Kate to let go and sat down, letting her head and arms collapse on the table.

"You okay?" Kate reached up and tapped her shoulder.

"Yeah," Amity shut her eyes. "Just tired."

Kate pondered a moment, then took the seat across the table and laid her head down, mimicking Amity's posture.

Opening one eye, Amity saw Kate and smiled, then rested again.

xXxXx

As the train pulled into the starship hangar at the edge of the station, Amity felt a tapping on her shoulder and looked up. "Jx?"

"Just a little more to go, Amity," he said as he helped her up. "We have to get these people to the ship. I've got a pilot already."

Amity nodded in a daze, then locked eyes with him. "Wait, you knew this was going to happen?"

"Did you think it was coincidence that I was there to drive the train?" He shrugged. "Come on, we've got people to evacuate."

"Wait," Amity stopped him, catching him by the shoulder. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"I'm not with that monster," he replied curtly. "I'm here to save people, like you are. Now let's go."

"I?" Amity followed him to the door, baffled. "I stock shelves at the repair shop! I'm no hero!"

Jx faced her. "Then what were you doing just now? Risking your life to save some girl's father?" He patted her arm. "Have a little faith."

Turning to the crowd, he spoke loudly, "Okay, everyone! When I open this door I need you all to head straight for the large freighter. Head to the hold and make room for others to get in, understand?" He pushed the door open and the passengers swarmed out.

"Amity?" Kate took Amity's hand.

"Stay with your father," Amity replied, releasing her. "Don't want to lose him again."

Kate nodded and Amity stepped back, allowing the crowd to move through. Following at the end of the group, Amity looked up at the wide hangar. The ceiling was still mostly intact, aside from a few crossbeams. The room shook and a few cries came from the crowd, but only dust fell.

Amity waited as the passengers pressed into the ship, then boarded and pushed the button to close the ramp. Sliding open the door to the cockpit, she looked to Jx. "All here, ready to go."

Jx nodded and signaled to the pilot, who started up the engines. Amity stepped in and took a seat, then glanced at the pilot. A slender woman sat at the controls, clad in a flowing white dress that exposed the grey-blue skin on her arms and head. Her head was wrapped with a thin metal band with feathers protruding and a veil draped around the back, and her face…

Amity stared more closely. There was no face. Visions of the shadowy monster from before flashed in her mind and she stood up, drawing her sword.

"Amity?" Jx turned, startled. "What is it?"

She glared at the pilot. "What are you? One of your kind tried to kill me earlier!"

"I know," the woman replied coolly. "Please, take your seat. Explanations will come shortly."

Amity growled. "In the past three days, my entire world's been turned upside down! I want answers now!"

The faceless woman turned and narrowed her face ridge as if glaring. "Sit down or I'll throw you out right here."

"Athena, please." Jx stood and the woman went back to piloting, then he turned to Amity. "She doesn't mean it. She values life more than any of us, but please, just calm down and I'll try to answer your questions."

"Okay," Amity huffed and sat back down. "Who are you, really?"

"Jxulxlox," he replied, returning to his seat.

"That's what you said before."

"I did not lie." He shrugged.

Amity nodded reluctantly. "Okay, and her?" She gestured to the pilot. "Athena?"

"She's an Ethereal," Jx replied, bracing himself as the ship took off. "They're… hard to explain. That monster before, Nega, he's an Ethereal too."

"But she's on our side?" Amity raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Jx nodded.

Amity stared at Athena, then sighed and returned to Jx. "Alright. What now?"

Jx glanced out the windshield, seeing the ship move deeper into space. "We should check on the passengers."